Estimate Instantaneous Velocity

Homework Statement

If a ball is thrown into the air with a velocity of 48 ft/s, its height in feet t seconds later is given by y = 48t − 16t2.
(a) Find the average velocity for the time period beginning when t = 2 and lasting for each of the following.

(i) 0.5 seconds

(ii) 0.1 seconds

(iii) 0.05 seconds

(iv) 0.01 seconds

(b) Estimate the instantaneous velocity when t = 2.

Homework Equations

$Average Velocity =\dfrac{\triangle y}{\triangle t}$ (Change in position over change in time)

$m=\dfrac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}$

The Attempt at a Solution

Set: $t = 2$ and $t = 2 + h$ (let h be the time difference) $\ne 0$

$t = 2$ is $y_{1},x_{1}$ and $t = 2 + h$ is $y_{2},x_{2}$

Average Velocity = $\dfrac{y(2+h)-y(2)}{(2+h)-2}$

Now with $y=48t-16t^2$, we will replace $t$ with $2$ and $2 + h$.

$\dfrac{48(2+h)-16(2+h)^2-[48(2)-16(2)^2)]}{h}$

$\dfrac{96+48h-16(4+4h+h^2)-96+64}{h}$

$\dfrac{48h-64-64h-16h^2+64}{h}$

$\dfrac{-16h^2-16h}{h}$

$\dfrac{h(-16h-16)}{h}$

Average Velocity =$-16h-16$

Then I plug in (i) 0.5 into the equation like this: $-16(0.5)-16=24$
I do this for the rest of them and get correct answers according to the online "WebAssign" website. Now I'm stuck on (b) "Estimate the instantaneous velocity when t = 2." You can look at my picture, I tried plugging in values near 2 like 2.1 and 2.01, etc, into $y=48t-16t^2$ What am I doing wrong? So as I get closer to 2 I get closer to the slope of 31.999 which then you make an educated guess (by rounding) and get 32. But this is wrong. I don't know why? Also, I heard there is another method for finding average velocity, my book doesn't have it--anyone know it? Much appreciation.

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Mark44
Mentor

Homework Statement

If a ball is thrown into the air with a velocity of 48 ft/s, its height in feet t seconds later is given by y = 48t − 16t2.
(a) Find the average velocity for the time period beginning when t = 2 and lasting for each of the following.

(i) 0.5 seconds

(ii) 0.1 seconds

(iii) 0.05 seconds

(iv) 0.01 seconds

(b) Estimate the instantaneous velocity when t = 2.

Homework Equations

$Average Velocity =\dfrac{\triangle y}{\triangle t}$ (Change in position over change in time)

$m=\dfrac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}$

The Attempt at a Solution

Set: $t = 2$ and $t = 2 + h$ (let h be the time difference) $\ne 0$

$t = 2$ is $y_{1},x_{1}$ and $t = 2 + h$ is $y_{2},x_{2}$

Average Velocity = $\dfrac{y(2+h)-y(2)}{(2+h)-2}$

Now with $y=48t-16t^2$, we will replace $t$ with $2$ and $2 + h$.

$\dfrac{48(2+h)-16(2+h)^2-[48(2)-16(2)^2)]}{h}$

$\dfrac{96+48h-16(4+4h+h^2)-96+64}{h}$

$\dfrac{48h-64-64h-16h^2+64}{h}$

$\dfrac{-16h^2-16h}{h}$

$\dfrac{h(-16h-16)}{h}$

Average Velocity =$-16h-16$

Then I plug in (i) 0.5 into the equation like this: $-16(0.5)-16=24$
I do this for the rest of them and get correct answers according to the online "WebAssign" website. Now I'm stuck on (b) "Estimate the instantaneous velocity when t = 2." You can look at my picture, I tried plugging in values near 2 like 2.1 and 2.01, etc, into $y=48t-16t^2$ What am I doing wrong? So as I get closer to 2 I get closer to the slope of 31.999 which then you make an educated guess (by rounding) and get 32. But this is wrong. I don't know why? Also, I heard there is another method for finding average velocity, my book doesn't have it--anyone know it? Much appreciation.
For the instantaneous velocity near t = 2, look at the change in position divided by the change in time.

Look at ##\frac{y(2 + h) - y(2)}{2 + h - 2}##, for some values of h that are close to 0, say h = .1, h = .01, h = .001.
You should get a value close to -16 ft/sec.

FritoTaco
My teacher also said use values like 0.1, 0.01, etc. Why? I don't get why we're using those values? Also, how do we make the equation where we can plug in those values? from using $\dfrac{y(2+h)-y(2)}{(2+h)-(2)}$

Last edited:
Mark44
Mentor
My teacher also said use values like 0.1, 0.01, etc. Why? I don't get why we're using those values?
Because you want the time interval to be very short so as to get a closer estimate of the instantaneous velocity.
FritoTaco said:
Also, how do we make the equation where we can plug in those values? from using $\dfrac{y(2+h)-y(2)}{(2+h)-(2)}$
You have the equation: ##y(t) = 48t - 16t^2##

FritoTaco
Because you want the time interval to be very short so as to get a closer estimate of the instantaneous velocity.

This is where I don't understand. It says find instantaneous velocity when t = 2. Okay, so don't we want to use values close to 2? Like 2.1, 2.01. So if it was like, "find instantaneous velocity closer to when t = 5", would I still use 0.1, 0.01, etc? Because that means we are 0.1 from 5 or 0.01 from 5?

You have the equation: y(t)=48t−16t2

When I plug $48(t)-16(t)^2$ into $\dfrac{y(2+h)-y(2)}{(2+h)-2}$, I don't understand how to do it. Am I actually plugging in $48(t)-16(t)^2$ into the y values of the other equation? Something like this:

$\dfrac{48t-16t^2(2+h)-48t-16t^2(2)}{2+h-2}$? Then distribute and simplify it down more?

Mark44
Mentor
This is where I don't understand. It says find instantaneous velocity when t = 2. Okay, so don't we want to use values close to 2? Like 2.1, 2.01. So if it was like, "find instantaneous velocity closer to when t = 5", would I still use 0.1, 0.01, etc? Because that means we are 0.1 from 5 or 0.01 from 5?
Yes. If h = .01, then 2 + h = 2 + .01 = 2.01
FritoTaco said:
When I plug $48(t)-16(t)^2$ into $\dfrac{y(2+h)-y(2)}{(2+h)-2}$, I don't understand how to do it. Am I actually plugging in $48(t)-16(t)^2$ into the y values of the other equation? Something like this:
$\dfrac{48t-16t^2(2+h)-48t-16t^2(2)}{2+h-2}$? Then distribute and simplify it down more?
No, you are "plugging in" 2 + h and 2, respectively, into your height function y(t) = 48t - 16t2
For y(2 + h), replace t in your formula with 2 + h.
For y(2), replace t with 2.
Then simplify the result.

FritoTaco
No, you are "plugging in" 2 + h and 2, respectively, into your height function y(t) = 48t - 16t2
For y(2 + h), replace t in your formula with 2 + h.
For y(2), replace t with 2.
Then simplify the result.

$48(2+h)-16(2)^2$

$96+48h-64$

$48h-32$

Am I doing this right?

Mark44
Mentor
$48(2+h)-16(2)^2$
I don't know what you're doing above.
FritoTaco said:
$96+48h-64$

$48h-32$

Am I doing this right?
No. This is what you should be evaluating: ##\frac{y(2+h)-y(2)}{(2+h)-2}##, using ##y(t) = 48t - 16t^2##. The quotient here gives you the average speed between time t = 2 + h and time t = 2.
Edit: Fixed a typo I had in the y(t) formula.

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FritoTaco
No. This is what you should be evaluating: y(2+h)−y(2)(2+h)−2y(2+h)−y(2)(2+h)−2\frac{y(2+h)-y(2)}{(2+h)-2}, using y(t)=48t−32t2y(t)=48t−32t2y(t) = 48t - 32t^2. The quotient here gives you the average speed between time t = 2 + h and time t = 2.

How did you get $y(t)=48t-32t^2$?

Also, in above when you said "For y(2 + h), replace t in your formula with 2 + h. For y(2), replace t with 2." Isn't that what I did and got the $48h - 32$?

Mark44
Mentor
How did you get $y(t)=48t-32t^2$?
I miswrote 32t2 instead of 16t2. I have fixed my typo.

FritoTaco said:
Also, in above when you said "For y(2 + h), replace t in your formula with 2 + h. For y(2), replace t with 2." Isn't that what I did and got the $48h - 32$?
Whatever you did isn't right. y(2 + h) gives you two terms, and y(2) also gives you two terms. Also, you have 2 + h - 2 in the denominator.

FritoTaco
Mark44
Mentor
FritoTaco said:
Also, in above when you said "For y(2 + h), replace t in your formula with 2 + h. For y(2), replace t with 2." Isn't that what I did and got the $48h - 32$?
Let's back up a few steps. You need to evaluate ##\frac{y(2 + h) - y(2)}{2 + h - 2}##, using ##y(t) = 48t - 16t^2##.

What do you get for y(2 + h)?
What do you get for y(2)?

FritoTaco
Am I placing $48t-16t^2$ into the y part of both $y(2+h)$ and $y(2)$?

Like this maybe:

$\dfrac{48(2+h)-16(2+h)^2-[48(2)-16(2)^2]}{(2+h)-2}$

$\dfrac{96+48h-16(h^2+4h+4)-96+64}{(2+h)-2}$

$\dfrac{96+48h-16h^2-64h-64-96+64}{(2+h)-2}$

$\dfrac{-16h^2-16h}{(2+h)-2}$

I'm pretty sure something isn't right but I gave it a go here.

Last edited:
Mark44
Mentor
Am I placing $48t-16t^2$ into the y part of both $y(2+h)$ and $y(2)$?

Like this maybe:

$\dfrac{48(2+h)-16(2+h)^2-[48(2)-16(2)^2]}{(2+h)-2}$

$\dfrac{96+48h-16(h^2+4h+4)-96+64}{(2+h)-2}$

$\dfrac{96+48h-16h^2-64h-64-96+64}{(2+h)-2}$

$\dfrac{-16h^2-16h}{(2+h)-2}$

I'm pretty sure something isn't right but I gave it a go here.
This is correct, but you should simplify the denominator.

When you've done that, estimate the velocity at a few times close to 2 sec., such as 2.1 (h = .1), 2.01 (h = .01), and however more you need to do.

FritoTaco
This is correct, but you should simplify the denominator.

When you've done that, estimate the velocity at a few times close to 2 sec., such as 2.1 (h = .1), 2.01 (h = .01), and however more you need to do.

Will it just be $\dfrac{-16h^2-16h}{h}$?

Mark44
Mentor
Will it just be $\dfrac{-16h^2-16h}{h}$?
And simplfy that...

FritoTaco
Like this:

$\dfrac{-16h(h+1)}{h}$ Factor

$16(h+1)$ Cancel out the h

Mark44
Mentor
Like this:

$\dfrac{-16h(h+1)}{h}$ Factor

$16(h+1)$ Cancel out the h
Where did the minus sign go?

When you get that straigtened out, pick a few (small) values of h, as described in parts i) through iv) of the first post, and then estimate the velocity at t = 2 seconds.

FritoTaco
Oh, I forgot about that. It should've been there as $-16(h+1)$

i.)0.5

$-16(0.5+1) = -24 ft/s$​

ii.)0.1

$-16(0.1+1) = -17.6 ft/s$​

iii.)0.05

$-16(0.05+1) = -16.8 ft/s$​

iv.)0.01

$-16(0.01+1) = 1-6.16 ft/s$​

b.) Estimate the instantaneous velocity when t = 2.

$-16(0.1+1) = -17.6 ft/s$

$-16(0.01+1) = -16.16 ft/s$

$-16(0.001+1) = -16.08 ft/s$

Estimate: $-16 ft/s$.

I entered that in and got it right! Thank you very much for your help!

Mark44
Mentor
iv.)0.01

$-16(0.01+1) = 1-6.16 ft/s$
Surely, you mean -16.16 ft/sec
FritoTaco said:
b.) Estimate the instantaneous velocity when t = 2.

$-16(0.1+1) = -17.6 ft/s$

$-16(0.01+1) = -16.16 ft/s$

$-16(0.001+1) = -16.08 ft/s$

Estimate: $-16 ft/s$.

I entered that in and got it right! Thank you very much for your help!

FritoTaco
Oh, oops. Yeah, -16.16ft/s.